Bookholder



^ March 21, 1933. Y G. J. FLANAGAN 1,902,549

BOOKHOLDER Filed oct. so, 195o 5 Sheng-sheet 2 Osage ZZQM am Mafch 2.1, 1933. G J, FLANAGAN l 1 1,902,549

' 7 BooKHoLDER `Filed 001'.. 30, 1930- s sheetssheet s Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GEORGE J. ELANAGAN, OE cHIcAGo, ILLINOIS; EARLE o. GEANNAN ExEOU'roEorsAIn Y GEORGE J.FLANAGAN BOOKHOILDER Application filed October 30, 1930. Serial No.'492,144.

This invention relates in general to a book holder and in particular is directed to improvements in means for supporting large and heavy reference volumes, whereinA the binding of the book is protected when the book is not in use, and which is easily ope,

able to permit the book tobe opened for perusal.

`Heretofore devices for holding and supporting heavy reference volumes have in the main consisted of a vertically adjustable standard. having a tiltable head at its upper end and a set screw for securing said head in adjusted position. A commonly constructed this head included a pair of laterally adjustable brackets, each of saidbrackets having hingedly secured thereto a wing member for engagement with one of the 1 cover members of the book, and a stationary cradle mounted' between and independently of said wings for engagement with the back of the book to assist in supporting it between the two wing members. In these devices manually operablev latching means were provided for latching the wings either in a substantially vertical position or in an extended position for supporting the book in a position for perusal.

These deviceslwere objectionable in that the set screw was unsatisfactory for securing the tiltable head in adjustediposition, since it could not be tightened suliiciently without the use of a wrench or other tool which was not as a rule conveniently obtainable. this reason, the set screw was often times not tightened, the result being that the head would be tilted unsuspectedlyv due to the weightof the reference volume andl cause the book holder to upset and possibly damage 10Y vthe book. Another objectionl to the prior Vde;r

vices as described above, was that the cradle for engagement with the back of the book was rigidly mounted between the wing members. Therefore, as the wings were moved from the closed to open position, the back ofA the book would be moved out'of engagement with the cradle and there wouldbe relative movement between the book cover members and the wing members. In due time this movement would wear out the binding of the For f book cover members.4 These devicesawere further objectionable inthat the manually operable latching means for latching the wings in `either the closed or open positions werevery inconvenient to operate.

To overcome these and other Vobjections to prior `art devices, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved book holder that is constructed from stamped metalf parts, that is yeconomical yto manufacture, pleasing in appearance, and convenient to operate.v j j Y o A further vobject of this invention lis to provide a book holder having improved means for adjusting the angle` at which thebook willbe supported. i `It is a further object ofr this kinvention to provide `a book holder of the type having wings Awhich may be moved to a plurality of positions for supporting a book when'it is either opened or closed, and'improved means for automatically latching said wings in each of said positions. y

Itis a further object of this invention to provide a book holder having an improved support for engagement with the back of the supported book, which is adapted to .conform to the curvature of the said backregardless of the thicknessof the book, and which is lso mounted that itwill followfthe movement of the back of the book during the change of the wingmembers from closed `to open position and viceversa.

Another object of this inventionis to provide an improvedV book holder in which the wing members areY mounted in such a manner that there will be no relativemovement between the book cover members andthe wing members, when the `wings are moved from open to closed position and vice versa. 90 It is also an object of this invention yto provide a book holder having.e yimproved means for adjusting the spacing between the A wing members to accommodate booksA of variousl thickness. 95 In accordance with the general features of this invention, I provide improved means for adjusting the angle at which the jbook will be supported, said means comprising a hinge joint or knuckle having'za pluralityfoi 100 friction discs, associated therewith which are held in cooperative relationship by a simple clamping device. Each of the wing supporting brackets is provided with a pair of spaced slide members which are engaged between a pairof clamping members, one of said slide members being spaced on one side of the connection of the tiltable head to the hinge joint and the other of said slides being` spaced on the other side of said connectionv member. This construction more efficiently secures the wing supporting brackets against the torsional forces as a result of supporting the heavy book in an'overhung position. F urther7 instead of' providing a stationary support forengagement with the back'of'the book,l I- provide a flexible support o-f lazytong fconstruction Y which is connected between'the lower edges of the wing members land curved to fit the back of a book. With this'constru'ction, the' support will accommodate itself automatically to the space between'the lower'edges of the lwing mem.- bers when they are moved from onefposition toA another, and will also follow the movement of the back of the book so as to support it at all times. Furthermore, resilient means in the form of a leaf spring is provide-'d on each of the wing members for coop- 01eration with a pin in such a manner that Y when the associated wing member'is moved from a substantially vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, the spring lwill pass through a dead center position closed position, means for laterally adjusting. the wings to accommodate books of differentthickness, and means for adjusting the angle at which the head will be supported.; 'y

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentay perspective view showing the relationship of the Vwing supporting brackets, and the in- `strumentalities `for adjusting' ,the space between said brackets.V

Figure 4 is a sectional view through the swivel joint connection between the supporting standard Aand the head, taken substantially-on line IV-IV of Figure 2.

view of the head, showing the wings iny Figure 5 is a plan view of the head adjusting means as viewed from below.v

Figure 6 is a rear view of my improved book holder showing the operative relationship of the various elements therein, and having cut away portions showing-means for automatically latching the 4wingmembers in eitherthe open or closed position.

Figure 7 is an enlarged view showing the details of one of the movable friction discs.

Figure 8 is an lenlarged fragmental view of theV hinge joint or knuckle connecting the head and standard having cut away portions to show therelationship between the movable friction discs and the stationary friction discs.r i Y As shown on the drawings:

In the illustrated embodiment of my in-` vention, there is shown in Figure l axbaseV or supporting structure A formy improved t book holder. rihis base comprises aA tubular standard l which is provided at its lower end with a plurality of equally spaced legs 2, each of which is providedwith a glider foot or caster-3 which permits my improved book holder toI be movedeasily from one place to another. Although I have not endeavored to show the specific manner 1in' which the legs Q-are connected to the standard l, it is contemplated that the legs may be connected to thestandard inaiiy conventional manner which willfpermit the standard to be longitudinally adjustedy to vary the height'at 'which the'head of my ydevice will be supported. Anv auxiliary book shelf l is carried by the standard so as to rest onA the top of the legs 2. I have found ittobe desirable in some cases to `construct this auxiliary book shelf of heavy material in order to effect a low center of gravityin my device, thereby increasing the stability thereof.

The book holding head B is vswiveled at the upper end of the standard l by providing a pair 4of semi-tubular members 5 and;

6 which are secured together by an encircling collar 7 in confronting relationship to form a tubular portion adapted for rotation within the standard 1. The collar 7 obviard and limit thefdistance that the members 5=and 6 will extend thereinto.

A joint or knuckle C hingedly supports the head 'B of 'my device so that it may be adjusted or tilted'to vary the angle at fwliicli it is desired to support the book, f- 'Ihe stationary portion of this joint is formed by the members 5 and 6,'which are leach cupped receiving a wing nut l1, `said bolt andwing i nut `cooperating to clampingly engage the outer surfaces of the members 5 and 6V. In

order to fpreventthe bolt 10 from turning when the wing :nut 11 is tightened or loosened, the aperture 9 in the` cupped portion of thel member 6 is shaped to receive` and held in spaced relationship by a` washer i 15 which surrounds the shank of the bolt 10. f lhe discs 14 are each provided with a central aperture 16 for receiving the shank of the bolt 10 therethrough for supporting the discs 14 for turning movement. Each of the discs 14 is provided with a` lip 17v which extends outwardly into one of the cut out portions 13 forlimiting the movement ofthe discs 14 relative to the flanges 12. Intermediate points of adjustment between the limits of rotation as established by the coactionl of thel lips 17 and the ends of the cut out portions 13 are provided by forming a plurality of recesses 18 in the outer surface of the disc 14 which engages the inner surface of the flange 12 on the member 5. A projection 19 is formed on the inner surface of this flange for succes-.-

sive registration with the recesses 18. Each Vof the discs 14 is provided with a radially extending arm which terminates in an outwardly extending portion 20 which is at right angles to the plane of the disc. These arms yform a support for a clamping plate 21 which is spot welded or otherwise secured thereto. A

The clamping plate 21 is rectangular in form and is provided with lateral channel portions 22 and 23 which .extend longitudinally thereof. AV similarly formed clamping plate 24 is disposed above the clamping plate 23 and provided with an extruded portion 25 in each of the lateral channels thereof which defines an aperture having its inner surface threaded for receiving the threaded end of a thumb screw 26, which extends through an aligned aperture formed in the confronting channel portion of the plate responding channel portions will cooperate to form a pair of guideways'which are oppositely spaced on each side of the longitudinal center line of the clamping plates.

slide bars 27 and 28 are arranged for longitudinal movement in each of the guideways so formed, an end of the bar 27 projecting from one end of the guideway and an end of the bar 28 projecting from the opposite a purpose which will i matically latch ,the wing in place.

21.v Since the clamping plates 21 and 24 are in confronting relationship, their cortion, this action `end thereof. The bars 27 and 28 ineach guideway are respectively provided -withf longitudinally extendingl apertures 29 and 30 lfor receiving the'shank of the thumb screw* 26' therethrough for limiting lthe movement of the bars through the guideway. This arrangement permits the. bars to be adjusted so that theirv outer. endswill pro-VV ject a greater orjless amount from the ends of the guideway as desired, and by tightening the clamped between the plates 421A and` 24 and thumb screw, 26 the` bars may bethereby secured against`r movement fromtheadjusted position. A ,The bars 27 are connected together aty their outer ends for unit adjustment by spotwelding or lotherwise securi-ngaplate mem-A ber 31 thereto. The :outer ends o f the bars 28 vare similarly,l connected together y by a plate member 31. Each plate j member 31 is formed to have an upwardly extendingfintegral portion32 having its lateral-margins bent inwardly to form a channel shaped bracketfhaving side wallsl 33 which'.v are se-` cured at their lower endsuto lugs 34cm the plate member 31.

The upper ends of theside walls 33 are shaped to form a pair of spaced lugs 35 which project above the upper edges of the portion 32V, said lugs being provided with f aligned apertures for receiving a hinge pin 36 .which extends therebetween. member37 is hinged on the pin 36 by means of spaced lugs 38 formed on the wing member and Vhaving aligned apertures through. A strap 39 of which the hinge pin passes. spring material, which is secured `by rivets 40 to the `wing member, is provided with Van angularly deflected-portion 41 which extends between the side Walls33iwhere its free end engages a pin 42 which extends between said side walls in a-ydirection parallel to the hinge pin Anl end edge lofthe wing737 is deflected inwardly at right anglesr to form a flange 43. The construction just described e permits the wing 37 to be rotated either toV a substantially vertical position as shown in Figure 6 or a tion asV shown in dotted lines therein.4 In either position the free end of the spring strap 39 and the pin 42 cooperate to auto.`

be notedthat `as thefree endof the spring strap 39 is moved around thepin 42 the s rinfT will ass wing in one dead center position and in the opposite direction after passingl through said lposi- A pair of interfitting channel shaped t bers 37e-37 by means of 'clips 44'Iwhiiel1, eg. 1

vA wing I It willv substantially `horizontal posij Y members is prevented.

maticallybe compressed -or extended as thecase may be, and be raised or lowered to` follow the movement of the supported book,

whereby relative movement'between the cover members 47 of the book and the wing My invention therefore provides a'n im-` proved book holder which is constructed of stamped metal parts; which is provided with improved means for? adjusting ythe angle at which the book `.will be supported;- which is provided with means forrautomatically latching the floook 'engagingl wings either in an openor closed position; which v is provided with a'supporting'cradle for engagement lwith vthe back of the supported` book, which 'will follow the movement of the book during change of the book engaging wings from.v open Ito closed or closed to Vopen position; a device in which the wing members are mounted so that there will be no tendency for relative movement between the cover members and the book supporting Wings; and improved means for laterally adjusting the spacing between the wing members Vto accommodate various size books.

I am 'aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range ywithout departingfromY the principles of this invention7 and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than as necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: y

1. A book holder comprising a support, a stationary friction disc carried by said support having a central aperture, said disc having a cut out peripheral portion, movable L means for engaging and holding a book, a friction disc carried by said means'having avcentral aperture, said latter friction disc having a deflected portion extending into the cut-out portion of said stationary fric-v tion disc, a Vpivot pin extending 'through said apertures, and a nut cooperating with said pin for clamping vsaid discs together.

2. A book holder comprising a support, a

pair of complementary clamping plates defining a plurality of spaced parallel guideways, a pluralityof slide members extending into and movable in said guideways, book engaging wings' carriedv by said slide mem-V bers, and means for causing said kplatesto clampingly engage said slide members in said guides, which means also limits the movement of the slide members, when the plates are unclamped. Y

3. A book holder comprising a support, a

pair of complementary clamping plates 'connected to said support and defining a plurality of spaced guideways extendingl lon-.J gitudinally of said plates, .afplurality ofv spaced brackets, a Vplurality of spaced slide members secured to' said brackets and extending into said'guideways, Ythe slide members of one bracket having slots in registra-1 tion withfslots on thelother slidermembers, a wing -member hinged on each of said brackets for engagement with the book, and means extending through saidslots to cause said plates to frictionally engage'saidslide -members and limit the axial movement of Y the slide members, when the plates i are re-v leased from frictiona-l engagement.

4. A book holderfcomprisinga support,

a pair of wings connected to said support and spaced apart to receive ya book therebetween,rsaid Wings beingY arranged for V outward movement to a substantiallyhorizontal planefor `supporting the book in an open .v Y

position and towards each other to support the book in-closed position, and a system off crossed bars pivotally ,interconnected and associated with saidlwings for engagementl with theback of the book. e Y, l

5. Al book holder comprising pair of members 'supported in spaced relationship for receiving a Y b ook therebetween, said members being arranged for outward move-` mentr to a substantially horizontal plane for supporting'the book in a position for perusal and towards each other to support the book in closed position, and a support of lazyk tong construction connected between said members for engagement with the back of the book.l

6. A book holder comprising a support, a pair ofv spaced wings hingedly connected to `said support, for engaging the opposite` cover members of a book, said Ywings being arranged for outward movement to a substantially horizontal plane for supporting the book in a position for 'perusal and towards each other for supporting the book in closed position, and a support connected between the lower edges of said wings of lazy tong construction for engagement with the back of the book, said support being shaped tofconform to the curvature of said back. f y

7. A book'holdercomprisying a support,v

a pair of laterally adjustable brackets Vcon,- nected to said support, a pair of members connectedto said brackets and adapted to receive a book therebetween, and av lazy-tong structure connected between `said members to engage the back of the book and support the same in any adjusted position of said brackets. Y

8. A book holder comprising a support, a pair of laterally adjustable' brackets connected to said support, a pair'of members connected to said. brackets rand adapted to receive a book therebetween, each of said members being movable to a substantially vertical position and a substantially horizontal position, a lazy-tong structure `oonnected etWeen said members to engage the Y back of said book and support the same lin any adjusted position of the brackets, and

between when in the closed position, a lazy- Y tong structure connected between said wings to engage the back of the book and support the same in any adjusted position `of the brackets, the weight of the book tending to hold the wings in closed position, and spring means for latehing said wings in either open or closed position, said spring means augmenting the weight of the book to t hold-the wings in closed position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name at Chicago, Cook County,

Illinois. t

GEORGE J. FLANAGAN. 

